Automatic construction pick and dirt remover



March 11, 1930. A. E. FIELD ET AL AUTOMATIC CONSTRUCTION PICK AND DIRT REMOVER Filed March 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l raven/Zora.

ARTHUREF7LZZ ULY666 0.17110.

V/COL 40.5 HA [7/ 7/146.

March 11, 1930. FIELD ET AL 1,750,586

AUTOMATIC CONSTRUCTION PICK AND DIRT REMOVER iled a c 1 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o I 68 Ill/Ill Invenio rs 11 AfiTflflREFiELD. Ulvsszs QEELD. MCOL/I US'HARITIIAG.

March 11, 1930. I A. E. FIELD El AL ,5 6

AUTOMATIC CONSTRUCTION PICK AND DIRT REMOVER Filed March 1928 :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \{fI/ I XX @213 1 159.14 4 J2 Invenfors.

A UREFI'ELD. I I l/ ULYSSES 651 /1510.

J2 .16 MCOLvqU-SHIRITHHS,

Patented Mar. 11, 1936 means aren't Fries ARTHUR E. FIELD AND ULYSSES G. FIELD, OF GRAY, AND NICOLAUS HARITHAS, OF MECHANIC FALLS, MAINE; SAID ARTHUR E. FIELD AND SAID ULYSSES G. FIELD ASSIGNORS OF ONE-SIXTH TO NICOLAUS HARITHAS AUTOMATIC CONSTRUCTION PICK AND DIET RED/[OVER Application filed March 13, 1928.

Our invention relates to a new machine for digging the earth and loosening the soil. This machine is simple in construction and readily applied.

In making excavations for various purposes, in the construction of highways and in the reduction of steep grades, considerable digging is done by hand. This machine does away with hand digging. Our machine is so constructed as to combine speed, power, movement and control in one. Every part of the machine can be readily inspected, and any part of the mechanism can be taken out and easily replaced. The shaft, that bears the pick-arms, can be indefinitely extended, and the number of pick-arms can be also in definitely increased, depending on the size of the machine.

The object of the fulcrum is to regulate, by hoisting or lowering the pick-arms, the depth of the strike of the picks in the earth.

The objects of the power transmission are: First to move the machine forward; second to move the machine backward; third to operate the picks; fourth to move the machine while the picks are stationary; fifth to move the machine and at the same time to operate the picks; sixth to create a high and low speed, while the machine is being driven to and from the place of work; seventh to create a high and a low power in operating the picks; eighth to operate the picks while the machine is stationary; and ninth to keep the engine running, while both the machine and picks are stationary. It creates two independent powers, one for the movement of the machine, and the other for working the picks.

In making a full disclosure of the power transmission in this application, our object is to show the most desirable means of operating the excavating device. In this application we make no claim to any invention disclosed in the transmission, but nevertheless we do not abandon it.

The excavating device of the automatic construction pick can be operated also by steam, electricity or other means, besides gas.

The character of the invention may best be understood by reference to the description Serial N0. 261,346.-

found in the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pickactuating crank shaft, shown with four crank-pins Fig. 4 is an end elevation, partly in transverse section, of the fulcrum frame-the view being taken as from line 44:, Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation, in section taken on line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of parts shown in Fig. 6, with the fulcrum frame raised from that position in which it is shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan taken on line 7-7, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of one end of the pick arm shown mounted on the crank shaft, and as seen from line 8-8, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 5

showing the pick arm raised in the fulcrum frame-illustrating the action of the safety springs;

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are views, respectively, of a multiple and single pronged pick;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the motor transmission gear box, with the gears exposed to view;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line 13-13, Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line 1414, Fig. 12, and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatical view showing the positions and relations of the gears, their pitch lines only being depicted.

Similar reference characters are employed to identify like parts throughout all the different views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the main frame of the tractor on which are mounted the operating elements of the pick actuating mechanism, 2 the superstructure employed to strengthen and stiffen the frame, and 3 the motive power unit, preferably an internal combustion engine, but not necessa- I rily. so, as steam or electric power might be being to transmit power at variable speeds to the rear axles for propelling the vehicle drive the sprocket wheels 14.

and the other to provide power, also subject to a variation in speed, to the pick actuat-' 'ing members. A more detailed description of this transmission mechanism Wlll hereinthe operator to ralse or lower the frame 27,

after be given.

Extending outwardly. from the transmission gear box 4 isa shaft 7 ,rfixed on which is a gear 8 and engaging the latter is a gear 9 secured to the transversely disposed shaft 10.

' The shaft 10 operates in suitable bearings 11 in the frame structure and on the ends of this shaft are sprocket wheels 12, which, through the agencyof the sprocket chains13,

These sprocket wheels 14 are fixed on the respective ends'of the crank-shaft15 which for the purpose of illustration is shown equipped with but four crank-pins-16 but which in actual practice and commercial use would doubtless be provided with a greater number. Thecrank-shaft operates in bearings 17 and the cranks are set so as to radiate at different angles of the circle to provide for consecutive rather than simultaneous operation of the picks relative to their impact into the ground. a

Each crank-pin carries one of the pick arms .18, the structural characteristics of one end of which latter are disclosed in Fig. 8.

Secured to the end of thepick arm by the 7 bolts 19 is a yoke strap 20 and within the open space 21 operates a crank-pin box 22 preferably made 'in halves and flanged on each side of the strap to secure'it against transverse displacement from the opening 21.

Screws 23 bind the two half boxes on the shims 24 in such a manner as to provide an 7 easy running fit over the crank-pin. The ex paneling force of the helical spring 25 holds the box 22 normally against the end of the pick arm 18. r

At. the end of the tractor, opposite that at which the engine is located, are two stanchions 26one on each side of the frame, and between these members operates the pick arm fulcrum frame 27. The constructional'features of this frame are shown in Figs. 4, 5

. and 7.

At spaced intervals along the frame are plurality of openings or apertures 28 through,

each ofwhich extends one of the pickarms 18. Beneath the arms in each case is a revolubly' mounted roll 29 normally in contact V Neareach'end of the frame is'a rack 34- cngaging-which is a gear 35. A shaft 36 on which the gears are fixed is journalled in the bearings 37, and has on one of its ends a fixedlymounted worm gear 38 driven by the worm 39. The shaft 40 which actuates the worm extends toward the front of the machine and a hand wheel 41 thereon enables thereby regulating the depth to which it is I possible to drive the picks into the earth in the operation of the picking machine.

On the outer end of each pick arm is a pick 42, preferablyofthe double or duplex type for the reason that a service of substantially double the length of time is thereby procured. The picks may be either multiple or single pronged, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and-11; respectively, and in all cases are detachablysecured to the pick arms so as to be quickly and conveniently replaced.

7 Any suitable arrangement for attaching the picks to the arms may be availed of, but as shown, 1t consists ln taper'lng the arms to fit a corresponding tapered hole 43 in. the

pick and drawingthe two together by means of abolt 44. c

act of wielding an ordinary hand pick.

VVhen thecrank is rotated in thedirection as indicated byithe arrow in '2, the pick arm first forces the'point of the pick into theground and then draws it toward the machine, the retractive movement of the pick;

forming a, cavity in the groundinto which the next advancingportion of earth loosened.

falls the "tractor, of course, slowly advancing as the picking operation proceeds.

The principal function exercised by the frame 27 and its co-acting elements is to accommodate the machine to any particular condition met with in picking; For instance,

when the ground is extremely hard a less depth .of picklng 1s 7 softer earth is being dealt with, and 'this possible than is the case Where depth when once established can be regulated by either raising or lowering the frame 27 the easier the picking the lower the frame would be disposed in the space between the stanchions-and vice versa. I

However, under any conditions, there are likely to be some spots or portions of the ground surface which are more compacted and solid than others, and occasionally a rock is encountered in the picking process. Were bedded obstruction.

no provisions made to permit of the pick yielding under these circumstances more or less damage to the parts might result.

To remedy the difliculty just referred to, construction graphically shown in Fig. 9 is provided. It will be assumed, in this instance, that the movement of the pick into the ground has been temporarily arrested before completing its full stroke. The fulcruming point of the pick arm has now been transferred from the frame 27 to the point of the pick.

' The crank-pin, however, will continue to move upwardly, raising the crank end of the pick arm, and to prevent what otherwise might result in a broken member, provision is made for the pick arm to rise from its normal position on the top of the roll 29 by the recession and compression of the spring 33- the roll 30, of course, rising at the same time.

Then again, resistance to retractive movement of the pick while in the ground is frequently met 'ith-as in the case of its encountering a root or other strongly em- Each pick arm is equipped with a safety device which takes care of this contingency. For instance, when resistance to the backward movement of the pick is olfered, continued rearward movement of the crank pin is not prevented, as the spring yields and allows the crank-pin box 22 to recede into the space 21-thereby avoiding any disarrangement or breakage of parts.

It will be observed that in the operation of this automatic construction pick machine the pick arm action is a combination of reciprocatory and oscillatory movements, and under either normal or abnormal conditions of operation it travels and thrusts on either one or both the friction-reducing elements, the rolls 29 and 30.

On reverting to a consideration of the transmission which, preferably, we have adopted to provide the connecting link between the power plant and the pick actuating mechanism, reference should be had to Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

As will be apparent, this transmission makes speed changes possible both for the locomotion of the tractor and the actuation of the pick elements. The gear box 4 has a partition 50, dividing the box into two compartments, one containing the gear trains for varying the drive speed of the rear wheels and the other the connecting gear trains for causing either greater or lesser speed in the operation of the picks.

The engine clutch is connected to the shaft 51 and the rear drive made through a connection at the universal joint on the shaft The gears 53 and 54 in compartment A and the integral gears 55 and 56 in compartment B revolve with the main engine shaft 51- the first two mentioned, 53 and 54 also being slidableon the shaft to give speed variations, in connection with the other gears in compartment A, for varying the tractional speed of the machine.

Slidable on the shaft 7 within the compartment B are gears 57 and 58 which when moved on the shaft in opposite directions engage the gears and 56, respectively. This provides two actuating speeds for the pick arms which under ordinary circumstances is sui'licient although it is obvious that a greater number of speeds is possible by employing more gear trains, i

The power taken in the present instance from the transmission for operating the pick arms anight be derived from some other or independent source, but for the sake of simplicity of construction and the absence of another power plant we prefer the arrangement as described and shown.

While the present apparatus as hereinbefore set forth fulfills all the requirements and objects enumerated, it is apparent that modifications in both the structure and the arrangem nt of the parts are possible without departin from the meaning and intent of the invention; we desire, therefore, to be understood as not limiting ourselves to the exact mechanical details as herein disclosed as, obviously, the invention might'be carried out in other ways.

. What we claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described the c mbination with a tractionally mounted frame, a crank-shaft having thereon a plurality of cranks, a pick-arm journalled on each of said cranks, means whereby said crank may be yieldingly held against longitudinal movementin one direction in said pick arm, a fulcrum frame, means to locate said fuL cruni frame in various vertical positions on and with relation to said tractionally mounted frame, a fulcrum roll in said fulcrum frame adapted to normally support said pick-arm intermediate its ends as it oscillates and reciprocates in response to the movement of said crank, a pick on said pick-arm, and n'ieans to rotate said crank-shaft at various rotational speeds.

2. In apparatus of the class described, adapted to be mounted on a tractor frame, the combination of a crank-shaft operably secured on said tractor frame, plurality of cranks on said crankshaft, a pick-arm operable on each of said cranks, pick on the outward end of said pick-arm, a fulcrum frame vertically adjustable in said tractor frame, a plurality of supporting rolls on said fulcrum frame, on each of which, one of the said pick-arms is adapted to oscillate and reciprocate in response to the rotative movement of the crank which serves it, a roll superjacent said pick-arm, a spring adapted to hold said last mentioned roll in continuous connected to and actuated by that-respective contact with the upper side of said pick-arm and to allow said pick-arm to rise from its supporting roll when said pick meets abnormal resistance to downward movement, and means on each end thereof to raise and lower the said fulcrum frame.

3. An automatic excavating pick device adapted to be installed on the frame of a motor tractor, co1nprising in combination, a

shaft rotatively mounted on said frame, a crank on said shaft, means to rotate said shaft-at various rotational speeds, a pickarm actuated by said crank, yieldingly in one direction and positively in the other direc- 0 tion, a pick on the outward end of said pickarm, a fulcrum for said pick-arm, means to raise and lower said fulcrum for the purpose of varying the depth to which said pick may enter the ground, and yielding means adapted to both hold said pick-arm in normal operative position on said fulcrum and to permit said pick-arm to rise from its fulcrum point when abnormalresistance to the completion of the full stroke of the said pick occurs.

4. In apparatus of the class described, adapted to be mountedon a mobile frame,

comprising in combination a crankshaft having thereon a plurality of cranks, means to rotate said crank-shaft, a stanchion on each slde o-f sald mobile frame, a fulcrum frame vertically slidable in and between said stanchions, a gear-tooth rack on each end of said fulcrum frame, two gears engag ng, respectively, the two said gear-tooth'r'acks, means to actuate said gears, whereby said fulcrum frame maybe raised'and lowered,a plurality of uniformly spaced vertical openings through said fulcrum frame, disposed transversely'thereof, a pick-arm passing through each of said openings and extending toward,

crank which longitudinally aligns with it, a revolubly mounted roll at the bottom of each of said openings adapted, normally, to support the respective pick-arm positioned V therein, lateral grooves in said openings, a

bearing disposed in said grooves, a roll rotatively mounted on said bearing, a spring acting to apply a strong, yieldable, pressure of said last mentioned roll against the top side of said pick-arm, and means on said pickarm to provide a yieldability to its movement toward said crank when resistance to movement of the said pick in the same direction is ofiered. I i V In testimony that We claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this first day of March, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight.

ARTHUR E. FIELD. ULYSSES G. FIELD.

'NICOLAUS HARITHAS. 

